Black Caps give Canada a whipping

Mumbai, India – New Zealand booked their passage from Group A in to the ICC Cricket World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday after Brendon McCullum set up a 97-run victory with a chanceless century.

McCullum’s well paced 101 plus a late flurry which helped the Black Caps reach 358-6 with an overall tally of 12 sixes left the Canadians with a target which proved far beyond them.

Canada’s skipper Ashish Bagai led a brave rearguard action, however, with 84 before cramp virtually crippled him and he was caught behind by Brendan McCullum off his brother Nathan McCullum.

Jimmy Hansra also battled hard against the inevitable with a stubborn 70 not out but he too needed extensive treatment for cramp on a very hot day at the Wankhede Stadium, and retired hurt before returning with eight wickets down.

Canada were never up with the huge run rate and eventually finished on 261-9.